Xi met Murdoch, executive chairman of News Corporation, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

“[We] welcome foreign media and correspondents to cover China stories, introducing China’s development to the world, and helping the world grasp the opportunities [afforded by] China’s development,” Xi said during the meeting.

Xi’s comments come as journalists from some foreign news organisations have been forced to cover the country from outside its borders after publishing stories about the top leadership’s wealth.

China blocked the websites of both the New York Times and Bloomberg News after they published investigations in 2012 into the family wealth of former premier Wen Jiabao and Xi.

The United States has rebuked China over its treatment of foreign media but Xi has sought to redirect blame for the visas troubles back on the news organisations. During a joint press conference with US president Barack Obama in Beijing last year, Xi likened the visa troubles to a car crash.

“When a car breaks down on the road,” Xi said through an interpreter, “perhaps we need to get out of the car and see where the problem lies. The Chinese say, ‘let he who tied the bell on the tiger take it off’.”